大慧普覺禪師語錄 6.16

6.16

Ascending the hall, [the Master] cited: "A monk asked Xuefeng: 'How is it when the cold spring in the ancient ravine?' Xuefeng said: 'Staring with eyes wide open, one cannot see the bottom.' 'What about one who drinks of it?' Xuefeng said: 'It does not enter through the mouth.' When Zhaozhou heard this cited, he chuckled loudly and said: 'It cannot enter through the nostrils!' The monk then asked [Zhaozhou]: 'How is it when the cold spring in the ancient ravine?' Zhaozhou said: 'Bitter.' 'What about one who drinks of it?' Zhaozhou said: 'He dies.' When Xuefeng heard of this, he said: 'Zhaozhou is an ancient buddha.' He then made bows from afar, saying: 'From now on, I will not answer questions.'"
The Master said: "Xuefeng's not answering questions has caused how many people to be filled with doubt! Zhaozhou's saying 'bitter': a red face is not as good as straight speech. If it were Miaoxi, it would not be so. How is it when the cold spring in the ancient ravine? Reaching the river, it supports the oars and rudders; issuing from the peaks, it irrigates the people's fields. What about one who drinks of it? Cool and refreshing to the lungs and viscera. These words contain two gates of defeat; if someone can discern them, I grant that you possess the eye of study and training."